The other team were playing a rather negative 4-3-1 and so the game started off with the Eagles feeling their way into it with plenty of space to pass the ball around amongst the back 3. Allowing us that opportunity to get comfortable on the ball would come back to haunt the Strollers who were so far living up to their name by getting beaten to just about every single ball. After about 5 minutes of this foreplay with no sides really doing anything of note, the two late arrivals (for both teams!) were subbed on to the pitch to bring the numbers up to 11 and allow us to switch into our 3-5-2 formation. Mark Rowntree (Boro) was moved into centre half and Charlie came in on the left of the back three. This allowed Dave and Masa to push into midfield, Dave as the holding player and Masa as left winger.

So, 5 mins gone and the game finally got started properly. The Eagles still continued to be first to 90% of the tackles and dominated possession early on. It was soon obvious that Charlie was a handy player who was more than comfortable to bomb up the flank and get involved in link up play with Masa, Luke and the strikers and some great moves were put together switching the ball across both the midfield and defence where Charlie and Masa were always offering an outlet. One such move that started with Jarrod at right back and went via Al, Dave, Luke, Charlie and then Masa, finished with a tame shot by Pete but was applauded by the oppo’s manager who could obviously recognise class. It was a great move and one that deserved a goal but was not meant to be. The Eagles were now beginning to really outplay this team and all signs pointed to a victory after more sustained periods of possession although there weren’t enough chances being created.

Too often after great work in getting to the opponents penalty area the ball didn’t get into the box quick enough and didn’t really provide much for Pete and Enda to get their teeth into. The back 3 had the Strollers attack in their pocket and I can only recall one effort from the edge of the box getting through which Adam dealt with comfortably. And so the half ended goal less but surely not for long if the Eagles continued to play like this?

The 2^nd half got under way and immediately off the centre CDS were on the back foot as Masa broke into the box unchallenged and was unlucky not to get a corner for his efforts. But the pressure didn’t relent and within moments the ball was swung back in from a free kick by Al out on the right and after bouncing through the pack of players in the penalty area and getting a touch off the goalkeeper, it was rescued from going for a corner by Pete who managed to steady himself and pick out Jarrod unmarked about 8 yards out , who finished coolly by passing the ball into the net. 1-0 to the Eagles and Jarrod’s first goal since his big money move in the summer.

It was the obvious outcome after 50 minutes of good football by the eagles and surely there would only be one winner to this game.

 For the next 15 minutes however there was little in it and if anything CDS were beginning to get back into the game. They got through on one occasion but a brilliant double save from Adam kept the Eagles in front although the lead was looking more and more fragile as the game went on.

Unfortunately with about 20 mins to go CDS got their equaliser which you have to say they probably deserved given the period of pressure they had. Not all was lost though!..... until they ‘scored’ a second 5 minutes later. A high ball was chipped in over the defence on a pretty central free kick and Adam had to back pedal quickly to avoid getting beaten. He did and managed to rescue the ball on the line but to everyone’s horror, except the other team, the ref gave a goal?????!!!!! It certainly didn’t look over the line from where this reporter was stood.

So 1-2 down and all of sudden CDS had found an extra 30% that had been absent in the first 60 minutes of the game. The Eagles pressed on attempting to regain some sort of control on the game and very nearly got back into it after another precision free kick from Alex on the right was swung into the box and straight onto Luke’s head but it sailed agonisingly wide of the keepers right hand post. And with that went the Eagles best chance of getting back into the game.

With maybe 5 minutes remaining a long ball up field got flicked on by their striker to a team mate in a suspiciously offside position who went on to finish past Adam and put the game beyond doubt.

A miserable end to a game that started so promisingly for the short staffed Eagles. Rumours that training on Thursday will focus on ‘backbone’ strengthening are yet to be confirmed.